About Michele Rosenthal, Author of Trauma! A PTSD Blog
When I was thirteen, I survived an illness so rare none of my New York City doctors had ever seen a case. An allergic reaction to a medication brought on a case of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Syndrome, which turned me into a full-body burn patient almost overnight. By the time I was released from the hospital, I had lost 100% of my epidermis.
PTSD, The Trauma of Living with Trauma
I went on to make a full physical recovery but I was not so resilient emotionally. Within a few months, I was experiencing nightmares, insomnia, anxiety, intrusive thoughts and practicing an enormous amount of avoidance just to get through the day. For the next twenty-four years, I struggled with undiagnosed PTSD, experiencing frequent mental, emotional and physical meltdowns.
Finally, I was diagnosed and got serious about recovery. Within a couple of years, I made it out of the darkness and into the light: I became 100% free of PTSD symptoms – and I’ve stayed that way ever since.
After my recovery, I felt so grateful I wanted to give back and help other survivors move forward toward feeling better. I founded HealMyPTSD.com, which is a site for PTSD education and support. I’m also the host of the radio show Your Life AfterTrauma and the author of the PTSD healing memoir, Before the World Intruded: Conquering the Past and Creating the Future. I work as a post-trauma coach helping survivors shed the past and frequently speak on topics about PTSD and recovery.
My goal with Trauma! A PTSD Blog is to accomplish three things:
- Information – the more you know, the more you can find ways to move yourself forward
- Support – the more answers and ideas you have for coping, the better you can get through each day
- Suggestions – the more actual practices you learn and implement, the more you will regain control.
What does all of this mean? My hope is that this blog provides you with both a place to come for trauma and PTSD information and also a place to ask questions. We don’t heal in isolation; we heal in community. Let’s build a great one together.
Trauma! A PTSD Blog Welcome Video
Michele is the author of Your Life After Trauma: Powerful Practices to Reclaim Your Identity. Connect with her on Google+, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and her website, HealMyPTSD.com.
APA Reference
Rosenthal, M.
(2012, August 16). About Michele Rosenthal, Author of Trauma! A PTSD Blog, HealthyPlace. Retrieved
on 2024, December 18 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/traumaptsdblog/2012/08/about-michele-rosenthal
Author: Michele Rosenthal
I suffer with the emotional roller coaster of PTSD. I am also an anxious empath and highly sensitive. I am starting to feel as if I may be bipolar as well. Trying really hard to reign in these emotions especially at work outs difficult because there is no place or time to do anything about it. I just fake it as best as I can, but usually fall short. I end up exhausted, drained, and distracted. Please any quick fix tools would be appreciated!! The trauma I endure is the death of my 17 year old son to colon cancer. 5 years ago.
Thank you for doing this, Michelle. Thank you for helping, for giving back.
I love your personal and encouraging messages at the end of your clips where you summarize the goal before saying "You can do this. I believe in you." I am glad you got through this.
i was reading "2 Responses to How To Stop PTSD Anxiety, Flashbacks and Panic" and would like to hear your thoughts on this...
How can one relax when an alarm is going off that there is something to be anxious about. No one stands calmly when a fire alarm is going off, and the thought well maybe there is no fire doesn’t help much either because who wants to take the chance of being burned –
Just read about you and I can somewhat relate due to ongoing illness in childhood. I am so glad you are healed from your disease and working on the
rest. Take care. Mauigirl
They say its just me not strong enough to handle or pull it under control myself instead of trying to link up with medical emergency reaponse unit.well its easier said than done.how can i fight something that only happen during sleep.
@Neil -- I hate hearing about people who say, "It's all in your head" or "just get over it". PTSD is real. I admire your strength, courage and determination to keep searching for answers. There is healing to be had if you’d like to feel a release from the anxiety and shadows of the past. Some ideas here if you’re interested: http://www.healmyptsd.com/treatment
Hello i have recurring event for a few yrs.i wake up usually like between midnight thru early dawn and its random with very fast racing heartbeat&feel like am been at move doing things&like my body feels like its in hot place like my feel like my extrmities are hot.i wake up suddenly with this symtoms.am currently bein treated for anxiety panic attack.but thr re occuring of waking up like ur brain is on hyper mode while sleeping then suddenly i wake up with symtoms that i just mention.always early morning and u feel like in distress or need someting have to do to get out.when i have this attacks i take some meds to help me control myself.but becoz am bymyself i always dial 911 kind of a call for back or reaching to able to help me like a back up buddy.when i have these attacks i usually go to a section of my place with two close walls and a door infront of me like just in case i need top pullout.i have
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I was recently dignosed with pstd i dont fully understand it and i cant talk about what happened and have no support. How do recover with my situation.
The most important thing, Dixie, is to find appropriate professional help. No one heals from PTSD alone. (I discovered that the hard way through my own PTSD recovery process!) You absolutely do have the potential to overcome PTSD and move forward to a life of meaning, purpose and joy but you will need the guidance of someone who deeply understands PTSD and has the tools to walk beside you to do that. I'm a post-trauma coach specializing in PTSD. Feel free to check out my website and contact me for further discussion: http://www.healmyptsd.com
Michelle i was diagnosed with ptsd this all came about when my mother died and 6months later my son took his own life. But my oldest son had died 1991i did not take the time needed. This year my other son took his life. I am always forgetting things and i seem not remember dropping things.
Cathy, you're carrying heaven burdens, for sure and it would only be natural that you're forgetful. The emotions of trauma and PTSD take up a lot of brain space and create a real fog that makes memory a challenge. Add to that the energy drain, sleep deprivation and a slew of other lovely PTSD issues and it's amazing we even remember our own names!
The good news is that there is help and recovery is possible. We're all individual, so we must find our own paths, but there are so many options I feel confident that you can find your way. You can find some ideas for both traditional and alternative treatment modalities here: http://healmyptsd.com/treatment
Hi Michele, welcome to HealthyPlace, I'm glad you're here with us. Looking forward to more of your Trauma! A PTSD Blog posts.
@Terri - I bet you and I could talk for hours! In my PTSD recovery memoir, I write about that very issue: there were so many signs of my PTSD for YEARS but no one ever helped me either. The good news is that with your diagnosis comes an opportunity for knowledge, exploration, discovery and healing. We each have our own personal path to recovery -- our job is to find it along with the people who can best help us do that.
tell me more. I have recently been diagnosed with PTSD and am learning I have had it for about 25 years now. I look back and realize so many things that were part of it and no one ever helped me.